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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Falconidae
  4. ›
  5. Falco
  6. ›
  7. Brown Falcon

BirdUp · Species

Brown Falcon

Falco berigoraVigors & Horsfield, 1827

Updated 11 June 2026

Also known asKarrkkanjKirrk

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
FALCONIFORMES
Family
Falconidae
Genus
Falco

At a glance

The Brown Falcon is a large bird, about 40–50 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
40–50 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Brown Falcon look like?

The Brown Falcon is a large bird, about 40–50 cm long and weighing 316–860 g.

The brown falcon is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
40–50 cm
Weight
316–860 g
Wingspan
82 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Brown Falcon?

The Brown Falcon is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Jason Graham · Tasmania, Preston, TAS, AU

Call

jimchurches · Tennent ACT 2620, Australia

Call

jstarspots · Tasmania, Railton, TAS, AU

Call

Jonathan Mills-Anderson · Brisbane QLD, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Brown Falcon eat?

The Brown Falcon feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Brown Falcon live in Australia?

The Brown Falcon is native to Australia, recorded across 93 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAustralia, west-central to south-east New Guinea and islands west of New Britain (south-east Bismarck Arch.)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

8 regions recorded